Written Answers Thursday 2 September 2010

Scottish Executive

Benefits

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding changes to the Independent Living Fund.

Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials have had a number of telephone discussions and a teleconference with officials in the Department of Work and Pensions regarding changes to the Independent Living Fund.

  The Minister for Housing and Communities raised this issue when he met with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled Peple, Maria Miller on 29 July 2010.

  I have also written to Maria Miller, explaining the Scottish Government’s concerns and we are due to discuss this matter on 16 September 2010.

Breathing Space

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed in Breathing Space.

Shona Robison: The number of staff currently employed within Breathing Space is as follows:

  

Skillset
Headcount
Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE)


Special Helpline Advisors
30
11.48


Breathing Space Service Operations Supervisors
3
2.81


Breathing Space Service Manager
1
1


Breathing Space Development Officer
1
1


Breathing Space National Coordinator
1
1


Breathing Space Support Officer
1
1


Total
37
18.29



  Plus: 2 (0.4 WTE) British Sign Language (BSL) workers for Deaf pilot ending in November 2010.

Civil Servants

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the nationality of the civil servants employed by it.

John Swinney: The following table provides a breakdown of the disclosed nationalities of the civil servants employed by the Scottish Government.

  

Nationality
Percentage of Employees


British
26%


English
4%


Irish
1%


Not Known/Refused to Say
11%


Other Commonwealth Nationals
0% 


Other EU Nationals
1%


Other Nationalities
0%


Scottish
57%


Welsh
0%


All
100%



  This covers all permanent and fixed-term appointment staff. Rounding means that three categories show 0%; all three categories contain between 0.2% and 0.3% of staff.

Civil Servants

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are directly employed by it.

John Swinney: Data on the number of Core Scottish Government employees is available within the National Statistics publication Public Sector Employment in Scotland . This can be accessed via the Scottish Government website at the following address (table 8a and 8b):

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment/PSEwebtables/Q/forceupdate/on.

Civil Servants

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants who work in its directorates are employed by the UK Government.

John Swinney: Six civil servants who work in Scottish Government directorates are employed by the UK Government. One is on a secondment and the remaining five are on loan.

Civil Servants

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it has advertised (a) externally and (b) internally since May 2003.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government retains information on recruitment exercises for  12 months.

  Between 26 August 2009 and 25 August 2010 there have been 728 jobs advertised internally and 73 jobs advertised externally.

Civil Servants

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is regarding the recruitment process for its civil servants.

John Swinney: Copies of the main Resourcing Policy which covers recruitment to Scottish Government posts (other than those in the Senior Civil Service) are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51565). Senior Civil Service recruitment is carried out in line with guidance from the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles. Further information is available at www.work-for-scotland.org .

Cycling

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on improving the cycle network in both (a) cash and (b) real terms and how many bicycle journeys have been undertaken in each year since 1997.

Stewart Stevenson: 1. Financial Information for 1997-98 to 1998-1999 was not recorded in the level of detail which was used from 1999-2000. Table  11.1 of the Scottish Transport Statistics: No 27 - 2008 Edition provides details of the expenditure on transport within the Scottish ministers’ responsibility, and expenditure on transport controlled by local authorities. The latter gives a figure which includes Cycling Walking and Safer streets expenditure but does not break it down further. The publication is available to view on the Scottish Government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/22091243/154.

  2. The following tables provide figures on capital spending on improving the cycle network from 1999-2000 to 2010-11 in both (a) cash and (b) real terms (Table 1) and how many bicycle journeys (measured in millions of kilometres) have been undertaken in each year since 1997 (Table 2).

  Table 1. Capital Spending on Improving the Cycle Network from 1999-2000 to 2010-11

  

Year
Cash Total (£ million)
Real Terms (£ million at 2009-10 prices)#


1999-2000
0.60
0.77


2000-01
1.04
1.31


2001-02
0.75
0.92


2002-03
2.49
2.97


2003-04
4.17
4.84


2004-05
5.14
5.80


2005-06
5.33
5.91


2006-07
5.92
6.35


2007-08
8.22
8.57


2008-09
7.65
7.77


2009-10
9.13
9.13


2010-11
12.21
11.85*



  Notes:

  # = Real terms figures calculated using UK GDP deflator (Source HM Treasury)

  * = 2010-11 figure is an estimate based on June 2010 UK Budget forecast.

  The total funding in the table above includes allocations to:

  Local authorities for Cycling Walking and Safer Streets for 1999-2000. Between 1999-2000 and 2007-08 an average of 20% was spent on cycling projects from this grant. In 2008-09 this percentage increased to 36%;

  Sustrans to extend and maintain the National Cycle Network from 2001-02;

  Transport Scotland, for the Trunk Road Cycling Initiative from 2006, and

  Smarter Choices Smarter Places Programme funding for cycling interventions from 2008-09.

  Table 2. Bicycle Traffic Estimates – Scotland, 1998 - 2008 (Million Vehicle kms)*

  

1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


228
238
242
236
250
249
232
243
260
240
273



  *Source: Department for Transport (published in Scottish Transport Statistics No 28. 2009 edition).

Drug Misuse

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases against suspected drug dealers in the Easter Ross area have been dropped since June 2010.

Frank Mulholland: Since June 2010, one case with a charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 relating to supply of drugs has been deserted as a result of the absence of an essential prosecution witness. The said witness could not be traced despite the endeavours of the police.

Economy

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what it considers to be a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as a percentage of GDP.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35491 on 2 September 2010. The sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as a percentage of GDP, will vary throughout the economic cycle. However, over the long term, the sustainable level of public sector net borrowing will be determined by a number of factors including the country’s long-term economic performance, the existing stock of public sector debt, and the cost of financing additional borrowing.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Economy

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what timeframe it considers to be the earliest opportunity for UK public sector net borrowing to be returned to a sustainable level.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35366 on 27 July 2010. The Scottish Government believes UK public sector net borrowing should be returned to a sustainable level at the earliest opportunity. The timeframe over which this should be achieved will depend on the strength and speed of the economic recovery. All tiers of government should therefore be focussed on supporting the recovery and promoting economic growth. This is the most effective means of ensuring that public sector borrowing can be returned to pre crisis levels. In contrast, the austerity measures proposed by the new UK Government risk undermining the recovery and doing further damage to the public finances by cutting public spending too fast and too deeply.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Economy

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, how it defines a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing.

John Swinney: The long-term level of sustainable public sector net borrowing depends on a number of factors including the country’s long-term economic performance, the existing stock of public sector debt, and the cost of financing additional borrowing. It is important to consider all three of these factors when considering fiscal policy and long-term sustainability. For example, net borrowing will vary throughout the economic cycle with borrowing rising in response to economic downturns and subsequently falling once the economy has recovered. Balancing these trends over the economic cycle ensures that the stock of debt remains at a sustainable level. Given the uncertain economic outlook, there is a real risk that the new UK Government’s plans for fiscal consolidation will cut public spending too fast and too deeply. This may undermine the recovery and do further damage to the public finances in the long term.

Education

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on elective home education.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government considers home education to be a key aspect of parental choice in determining how their children are educated. We recognise the legitimacy of that choice and that home educating parents make that choice in the best interests of their children.

  In our statutory guidance on home education, as well as setting out the legislative framework, we offer advice on the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and home educating parents and encourage home educators and authorities to work together to develop trust, mutual respect and a positive relationship.

Education

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to remind local authorities that they should have regard to the statutory guidance on home education when formulating local policies and procedures so that accurate information for parents and details of named contacts in relation to home education are included in council literature and easily accessible on council websites.

Michael Russell: Authorities should be well aware of this statutory guidance, section 5 of which focuses on the importance of good practice in terms of the provision of clear contact information. General reminders are perhaps less effective than more targeted ones in circumstances where it comes to our attention that practice may need to be improved. As a general principle we expect local authorities to be constructive, courteous and open when dealing with home educators as with all other individuals and groups.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will publish its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland.

Jim Mather: The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland will be published this autumn.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been delayed and what the reasons were for each delay.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government originally intended to publish an Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for Scotland in 2008. However, a mandatory commitment to publish an EEAP, and set and report on energy efficiency targets, was subsequently included in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill in late 2008, with the intention that the EEAP would be developed once the bill was enacted. This provided the statutory reporting framework which we believe energy efficiency requires.

  Due to the requirement to undertake a full and active consultation on the plan, and subsequently analyse responses, it was not possible to meet a further intended publication date of 2009 after the Climate Change (Scotland) Act came into force.

  It was anticipated that the final plan would be published in late spring 2010 and a draft document was developed accordingly. However, in light of the establishment of the Short Life Working Group on Annual Emissions Targets, and given the role which energy efficiency will play in meeting these targets, it was considered inappropriate to publish the plan until new targets have been agreed.

  In the meantime, several actions within the draft document are already being taken forward.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the delay in the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures across Scotland.

Jim Mather: No. The delay in publishing the Energy Efficiency Action Plan has not adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures across Scotland.

  An increased level of emissions savings have been reported in 2009-10 by both the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust, who between them provide energy efficiency support to the domestic, business and public sector in Scotland.

  Many of the actions outlined within the draft EEAP are already being progressed, to ensure that we continue to build upon our wide range of existing policies and programmes prior to publication of the plan.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prepare and inform relevant stakeholders ahead of the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland.

Jim Mather: We will continue to engage with key stakeholders across all sectors prior to the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for Scotland. This has been our approach throughout the process of developing the Conserve and Save consultation and the draft EEAP itself.

Energy Efficiency

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times its proposed Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been mentioned in its (a) press releases, (b) consultations and (c) public documents since May 2007.

Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally. Publications by the Scottish Government can be found online at:

  (a) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases.

  (b) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Archive.

  (c) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent.

Energy Efficiency

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Energy Efficiency Action Plan will include a home loans scheme and, if so, how much money will be made available.

Jim Mather: The specific contents of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan will be disclosed when it is published this autumn.

  However, we are currently evaluating the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pilot which ran from October 2009 until June 2010. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform future policies targeted at reducing fuel bills for Scottish households, reduced emissions, reduced fuel poverty and a strong energy efficiency industry in Scotland.

Energy Efficiency

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Energy Efficiency Action Plan will include a new round of the home loans scheme and, if so, how much money will be put into the scheme.

Jim Mather: The specific contents of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan will be disclosed when it is published this autumn.

  However, we are currently evaluating the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pilot which ran from October 2009 until June 2010. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform future policies targeted at reducing fuel bills for Scottish households, reduced emissions, reduced fuel poverty and a strong energy efficiency industry in Scotland.

Energy Efficiency

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to re-introduce the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pathfinder scheme on a permanent basis and, if so, how much money will be put into the scheme.

Jim Mather: We are currently evaluating the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pathfinder which ran from October 2009 until June 2010. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform future policies targeted at reducing fuel bills for Scottish households, reduced emissions, reduced fuel poverty and a strong energy efficiency industry in Scotland.

Enterprise

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the reason to be that Scotland has a business start-up rate lower than in the United Kingdom as a whole and other comparable countries

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government measures the business start-up rate as the number of businesses registering for VAT and/or PAYE per 10,000 resident adults.

  In 2008, Scotland’s business start-up rate was 38 per 10,000 resident adults compared to a rate of 54 for the UK. Historical VAT registration data dating back to the 1980s shows that the Scottish rate has persistently been below that of the UK. However, there are regional differences in the business start-up rate across the UK and within Scotland, with some areas in Scotland performing well against parts of the UK.

  Progress has been made to close the gap with the UK over recent years. Businesses registering for VAT/PAYE in Scotland increased by 15.2% between 2002 and 2008 – compared to a UK increase of 11.4%. Excluding London, the UK increase was only 7.9% over the period.

  There are many factors that have an impact on business start-up rates – including fiscal and tax policy, regulation, the rate of GDP growth, employment, business confidence and cultural/motivation factors. Many of these are out-with the direct control of the Scottish Government.

  For example, the Government Economic Strategy makes clear that the Scottish Government believes in making the "case for Scotland to have fuller, and eventually full, responsibility for tax raising and public spending, utilising this to make Scotland the lowest taxed part of the UK, dropping corporation tax significantly below the UK level." Thereby making Scotland a more attractive destination for business in general, but also for business start-ups.

Ferry Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are of the cost savings of each of the options for cutting the operational costs of NorthLink Ferries Ltd, showing the impact on the net estimated cost saving of the changes in (a) fuel costs, (b) staff costs, (c) passenger and accompanied vehicle revenue, (d) freight revenue and (e) any other costs of a value greater than 10% of the total estimated net cost saving.

Stewart Stevenson: This information is currently being collated as part of the Northern Isles Study process and will be made available in due course.

Ferry Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the impact on (a) passenger numbers, (b) accompanied vehicle numbers and (c) freight tonnages of each of its options for cutting the operational costs of NorthLink Ferries Ltd, broken down according to the routes between (i) Lerwick and Aberdeen, (ii) Lerwick and Kirkwall, (iii) Kirkwall and Aberdeen and (iv) Stromness and Scrabster.

Stewart Stevenson: This information is currently being collated as part of the Northern Isles Study process and will be made available in due course.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans are in place in the event that the consortium that has been invited to bid for the Forth Crossing contract falls from two to one.

Stewart Stevenson: In the event that only one bid was received, then subject to competition having been maintained, it would be considered on whether or not it represented value for money.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated total cost is of the Forth Crossing project.

Stewart Stevenson: As I announced in the chamber on 10 December 2008, the estimated cost of the Forth Replacement crossing is £1.7 - £2.3 billion (total outturn costs in 2016).

Health

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) deaths and (b) group B streptococcal infections were recorded in neonates in each of the last three years, also broken down by rates per live birth.

Shona Robison: (a) The number of neonatal deaths and rates per 1,000 live births are published annually by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) and can be accessed via the following link:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/vital-events/ref-tables-2009/stillbirths-infant-deaths.html.

  GROS have also confirmed the number of neonatal deaths for which "group B streptococcus" or "group B streptococcal" was mentioned on the death certificate to be as follows:

  

Year
Cause of Death


Underlying
Contributory


2007
1
1


2008
2
0


2009
2
2



  (b) Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have confirmed the number of group B streptococcal infections recorded in neonates in each of the last three years, as detailed in the following table. HPS also advise that any apparent variation in data should be interpreted with caution, given improvements in the reporting of these infections over recent years.

  

Year
Number of Group B Streptococcal Infection Reports in Neonates
Rate per 1,000Live Births


2007
148
2.6


2008
240
4.0


2009
322
5.5

Health

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to NHS boards regarding the provision of bariatric surgery.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s role is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS boards to enable clinicians and service planners to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services to local communities. It is a matter for NHS boards to plan for and provide services to meet the assessed needs of their resident population, irrespective of age or clinical condition. This applies to management of obesity, including the provision of bariatric surgery.

  Recent initiatives and reports issued to support NHS boards and clinicians to deliver effective care for overweight and obese adults and children include: Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight; the SIGN guideline on Management of Obesity, and the national roll out of the Counterweight Programme approach to managing weight in primary care.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rights patients have to access medicines approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium and whether any rights will be embodied in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) assesses newly licensed medicines for clinical and cost-effectiveness and provides advice to NHS Boards. Where the SMC has accepted a newly licensed medicine, NHS boards are expected to make it (or its equivalent) available in accordance with the clinical needs of patients.

  The majority of medicines reviewed by the SMC are medicines for conditions where alternative treatments already exist. Whilst NHS boards are expected to follow SMC advice, the implementation of these SMC accepted medicines is subject to local NHS board decision.

  There is the facility for the SMC to designate an innovative medicine for a condition where there are no other treatment options as "unique". In the event that a "unique" medicine was accepted by SMC, NHS boards would be required to introduce it to an agreed national programme.

  Guidance setting out the policy framework with regard to the introduction and availability of newly licensed medicines in the NHS in Scotland was issued to NHS boards on 17 May 2010. A link to the guidance is attached http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2010_17.pdf.

  The Patients Rights Bill will not embody a right to access a certain treatment or medicine. The bill deals with general principles about how healthcare should be delivered. It does not give rights to specific treatments or medicines, or for specific conditions.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rights patients have in respect of (a) waiting time for a diagnostic CT scan, (b) waiting time for thrombolysis and (c) admission within 24 hours to a specific unit for stroke treatment and rehabilitation.

Nicola Sturgeon: The national waiting time standard for a CT scan is six weeks. This is a maximum waiting time. Latest waiting time statistics published on 31 August showed that no patient had waited more than four weeks for a CT scan.

  Most stroke patients will require to be admitted to hospital immediately and will not wait for the start of their treatment. Stroke is a clinical priority for NHSScotland. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has published updated clinical standards for stroke which include standards for access to a specialist stroke unit, CT scanning and the administration of thrombolysis. We expect NHS boards to implement the stroke standards with a view to improving the standard of stroke care for all patients.

  The National Advisory Committee for Stroke (NACS) will continue to closely monitor NHS boards’ performance with implementing stroke standards through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit and will draw boards’ attention to those aspects of services where good progress has been made and those where improvements are required.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether preventative initiatives, such as the Keep Well programme and the new heart MOT health check, include pulse checks to identify people with atrial fibrillation.

Shona Robison: The health checks delivered under the Keep Well anticipatory care programme may include pulse checks which would identify atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, but this is not undertaken in all cases. When detected, appropriate follow-up and treatment are arranged.

  The content of the new "heart MOT" health check is still to be agreed.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for Breathing Space in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and what the anticipated budget is for 2010-11.

Shona Robison: Annual funding provided to Breathing Space is as follows:

  2007-08

  £905,000 total funding received:

  £680,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space

  £225,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).

  2008-09

  £1,025,000 total funding received:

  £800,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space

  £225,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).

  2009-10

  £1,061,000 total funding received:

  £825, 000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space

  £10,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for the Deaf Connections British Sign Language programme

  £226,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).

  2010-11

  £1,043,000 total funding received:

  £825,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space

  £218,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).

Justice

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals who are on probation in Scotland can arrange to complete their probation in other parts of the United Kingdom and, if so, how this can be arranged.

Kenny MacAskill: Section 234 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 provides for Scottish courts to transfer probation orders where the offender has attained the age of 16 years and resides or will reside in England and Wales. The offender makes an application for transfer to the court which made the probation order. If the court is satisfied that arrangements for supervision of the offender can be made by a probation officer, appointed for or assigned to the petty sessions area in which the offender resides or will reside, it will amend the order accordingly. No such provision exists for the transfer of probation orders to Northern Ireland.

Nuclear Power

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the output was of (a) Hunterston and (b) Torness nuclear power station and what percentage of total Scottish electricity output it represented in each month of 2009.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally. However, annual figures for electricity generated by each energy source in Scotland are published online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/sesoSubSearch/Q/SID/98.

  In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, nuclear provided 30.2% of Scotland’s total electricity generation.

Planning

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a failure to notify neighbouring properties of a planning application constitutes a breach of planning regulations.

John Swinney: Failure to comply with the requirements on neighbour notification, as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, would be a breach of planning regulations.

  Neighbouring land within the Regulations means an area or plot of land which, or part of which, is within 20 metres of the boundary of the land for which development is proposed. Planning authorities are required to send a notice to neighbouring land if suitable premises are situated on the neighbouring land. Where there are no premises to which a notice can be sent, then the planning authority is required to publish a notice in a newspaper circulated in the locality in which the neighbouring land is situated.

Poverty

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with COSLA to ensure that indicators of poverty are included in single outcome agreements for (a) local authorities and (b) community planning partnerships.

John Swinney: Community Planning Partnerships choose indicators they deem appropriate for their local priority outcomes. These are established within the context of the National Performance Framework that sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to tackling poverty.

Procurement

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by its core departments on consultants in 2009-10.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33896 on 8 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Public Inquiries

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35845 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 August 2010, whether it will request Sir Anthony Campbell to publish the report of his Fingerprint Inquiry before March 2011.

Kenny MacAskill: No. There is no reason to believe that such a request will be necessary. The terms of reference of the Inquiry do not include a timeframe in which the chairman is expected to report and such a request would not be in keeping with the statutory provision that the conduct of the Fingerprint Inquiry is for the chairman to direct.

Public Inquiries

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35868 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 August 2010, whether there has been any further projected increase in the cost of the Fingerprint Inquiry since April 2010.

Kenny MacAskill: There have been no further projected increases in the cost of the Fingerprint Inquiry since April 2010.

Public Inquiries

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial consideration is given to the potential cost of public inquiries before setting them up; which ministers were involved in the decision to set up the Fingerprint Inquiry, and what projected cost was given to them when making their decision.

Kenny MacAskill: Ministerial considerations of cost or any other relevant matter will differ substantially in accordance with the nature and specific characteristics of the circumstances for which public inquiries are under consideration.

  For Inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005, considerations will include the provisions of Section 17, which require that the proceedings and conduct of an Inquiry are for the chairman to determine, and that in making any decision as to the procedure or conduct of an inquiry the chairman must act with regard also to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost. Further ministerial considerations of the potential cost will be associated with any decisions to issue determinations under Sections 39 and 40 of the 2005 act.

  In relation to the Fingerprint Inquiry, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice considered the key preliminary matters including the Inquiry’s terms of reference and the appointment of a Chairman in June 2007, following the commitment to establish a judicial public inquiry, made by the Scottish National Party in May 2007 in the published document It’s time to look forward - the first 100 days of an SNP government.

  Following preparatory work, the Fingerprint Inquiry was established on 14 March 2008, on which date the terms of reference and Sir Anthony Campbell’s chairmanship were announced.

  In relation to the projected costs of the Inquiry, I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-11621 on 15 April 2008 and S3W-11870 on 24 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  A ministerial determination under Section 40(4) of the 2005 Act was announced on 5 June 2008, following which a provisional budget estimate of £3.5 million was provided to ministers by the Inquiry team in October 2008. The final estimated cost of just over £4 million was announced in April 2010, following completion of the public hearings.

Public Sector Pay

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public sector employees earn less than £7.15 per hour and in what areas they work.

John Swinney: There are no employees working in the Scottish Government core directorates who earn less than £7.15 per hour.

  Approximately 4,500 employees in NHS Scotland are expected to earn less than £7.15 per hour in 2010-11. These are staff on the lowest point of the Agenda for Change pay scale which is currently £6.98 per hour.

  Pay for local government employees is a matter for local authorities and the appropriate trades unions.

  Information is not held centrally about employees in non-departmental public bodies.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35085 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, from what sources the money will come to finance the Borders railway line; what the expected rate of interest is on the borrowing; what recourse there will be to private finance; how much public money will be used, and from what sources.

Stewart Stevenson: The successful Design, Build, Finance and Maintenance (DBFM) Contractor is required to obtain appropriate private finance to fund the activities of the DBFM Contract. The cost of capital will form part of each consortium’s bid, and therefore the expected cost of capital is commercially confidential. The DBFM contract is the principal source of finance for the project, and will be managed using Not for Profit Distributing principles. DBFM payments will be made by the Scottish Government over a thirty year period following the opening of the railway. In addition, the Scottish Government has spent to date £52 million on land purchase, advanced works and development costs. The City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scottish Borders Councils will also make a capped financial contribution worth in total £30 million.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35084 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, what savings would be made if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders for the Borders railway project were abandoned.

Stewart Stevenson: It is estimated that if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders in relation to land/access rights required to maintain the Borders Railway were not served, savings would be in the region of £170,000 - £200,000.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35083 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 August 2010, whether it will list the consultancy services provided by (a) Weber Shandwick, (b) Ernst and Young and (c) Dundas and Wilson.

Stewart Stevenson: Major infrastructure projects by their nature require lengthy development periods and this often requires specialist external expertise to support the core Transport Scotland team’s work in delivering the project efficiently and effectively.

  Weber Shandwick have supported the in-house Transport Scotland communications team by providing services such as design and production of procurement documents and corporate material such as exhibition stands. They were also involved in newsletter production and providing briefings for directly affected communities and wider stakeholders, along with the production of industry events and information to introduce the project to the contracting industry.

  Ernst & Young provided the appropriate financial advice required to develop the procurement strategy, including financial modelling and commercial and strategic advice.

  Dundas & Wilson have provided thorough and detailed legal advice to the project including contract drafting, and advice on appropriate risk allocation.

Rail Network

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the statutory guidance on home education that was issued in 2008.

Michael Russell: The guidance has been well received by both local authorities and home educating organisations. We routinely keep all such guidance under regular review to ensure that it is accurate and up to date. However, we have no plans to review or revise it in any significant way.

Rail Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for rail services.

Stewart Stevenson: Section 30 of the Railways Act 1993 as amended makes the relevant franchising authority responsible for securing passenger rail services in the absence of a franchise. Scottish Ministers are the relevant franchising authority for the services provided under the ScotRail franchise agreement. The Secretary of State is the relevant franchising authority for any other franchise agreement.

Regional Selective Assistance

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of Regional Selective Assistance has been given to indigenous firms in Dundee in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive has, since April 2002, routinely published information on Regional Selective Assistance (RSA). Scottish Enterprise assumed operational responsibility for making new offers of RSA from 1 October 2009 and continues to publish information on new RSA offers. Information on accepted offers, payments and recoveries can be found in the report section of the Scottish Business Grants website at http://www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/208.html .

Regional Selective Assistance

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value has been of offers of Regional Selective Assistance to indigenous firms in Dundee in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Jim Mather: The average value of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) offers made by the Scottish Executive, during the last four full years in which it operated the RSA scheme, to indigenous firms in Dundee is as follows:

  

Year
Amount


2008-09
£159,000


2007-08
£350,333


2006-07
£442,143


2005-06
£143,250



  From 1 October 2009 Scottish Enterprise assumed responsibility for making new offers of RSA. Information on RSA can be found on the Scottish Business Grants website at:

  http://www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/208.html.

Regional Selective Assistance

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs were (a) created and (b) safeguarded in Dundee through Regional Selective Assistance in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Jim Mather: Regional Selective Assistance projects involve the creation and / or safeguarding of a specified number of jobs over the duration of the grant contract. This includes a specified period after the final payment has been made when the project jobs have to be maintained. Typically, projects can be undertaken over a number of years. Records are not maintained of jobs created or safeguarded by financial year as it is the overall number of jobs created or safeguarded over the duration of the grant contract which is important.

  Information on accepted offers and the associated planned job creation and job safeguarding can be found within the report section of the Scottish Business Grants website at:

  http://www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/208.html.

Renewable Energy

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total output of all wind generators in Scotland was and what percentage of the total electricity demand this represented in each month of 2009.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested. Annual figures for electricity generated by renewables in Scotland are published on the Scottish Government’s website at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/sesoSubSearch/Q/SID/205.

  In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, wind and wave power supplied 3330 gigawatt hours which is the equivalent of 8.1% of Scotland’s total electricity demand.

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when discussions between its officials and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to formalise the provision of advice by SEPA on wind farm developers’ carbon impacts calculations will be concluded.

Jim Mather: Discussions are ongoing between the Scottish Government and SEPA as to SEPA’s role in validating information supplied by developers from their use of the carbon calculator in onshore wind farm planning applications under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989).

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the dates for the various stages of the research project, Carbon implications of Wind Farms located in peatlands – update of the web-based SG carbon calculator tool, including the (a) award of the contract to undertake the work, (b) completion of the research project, (c) publication of the results and (d) completion of any updating of the carbon calculator tool.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is currently evaluating tenders received for work to update the carbon calculator tool and hopes to award the contract in the next month. If this is the case, the research project should be completed before the end of the year and publication of results, along with updating of the tool, would take place in January 2011.

School Meals

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is formal monitoring of local authorities’ progress toward delivering the Scottish Government’s commitment on free school meals.

Adam Ingram: Uptake of free school lunches by virtue of tax credit system is formally monitored through the annual School Meals in Scotland Survey . Results from the last one were published in June 2010 and can be accessed through the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/06095048/0.

  We do not have a single process planned for monitoring the P1 to P3 free school meal commitment. Councils have been invited to decide how best they will meet the additional targeted 20% progress towards this commitment. That progress may be achieved in a number of different ways as suits local circumstances. COSLA and the Scottish Government are currently working with local authorities to establish a suitable means of assessing authorities’ progress in this area in the context of their delivery across the package of commitments agreed with COSLA earlier this year, including progress on class sizes.

Scottish Futures Trust

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have been procured by the Scottish Futures Trust using the Non-Profit Distributing model.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33243 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .